Latest news with #BritishBeekeepersAssociation
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Asian hornet spotted in Mordon sparks fears of nest
An Asian hornet has been spotted in a village, sparking fears of a hornet was seen on 28 May in Mordon, County Durham, when the insect flew out of a polytunnel.A National Bee Unit inspector has visited the area and put up monitoring Campbell, from the British Beekeepers' Association, explained that just one queen hornet "could set up a nest". "What we are worried about is increasing numbers of Asian hornets in the UK," he said."We are seeing really scary numbers from the Channel Islands and we have had a very warm spring."The entire problem with hornets in Europe began with a few in the south of France 20 years ago."All it takes is one queen, so we don't take any reports lightly at all." There is still no confirmed origin of the hornet in Mordon, despite local Campbell added: "There is no apparent way of the hornet arriving there."It either managed to fly over the Channel or made it over through the transportation of goods."In 2025 there have been 24 sightings in England of Asian hornets so far, with concerns the number of nests needing to be destroyed will eclipse the 24 last invasive species feeds on native bees and wasps, damaging diversity. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Gardeners urged to plant £1.08 herb to deter Asian hornets
Asian hornets are a highly invasive species that were accidentally introduced to the UK in 2016. They are known to decimate bee populations and ravage ecosystems. Gardeners have been alerted to a surge in sightings of a fearsome hornet that wreaks havoc on bees and flowers – but luckily, there's one common herb that can keep them away available in most supermarkets. Asian hornets are an extremely invasive species that were unintentionally introduced to the UK back in 2016. They are notorious for decimating bee populations and devastating ecosystems. Even more alarming, their numbers in Britain are on the rise. There were 262 queen Asian hornets recorded on Jersey by April 11, 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of a whopping 1,090%. Asian hornets typically emerge from hibernation around April. To make matters worse, they favour warmer temperatures, suggesting that the recent heatwave has likely boosted their numbers. The concern arises from their predation on native pollinators, such as bumblebees. In fact, a single Asian hornet can kill and consume up to fifty bumblebees in a day, reports the Mirror. They also pose a risk to humans. These yellow-legged insects are slightly larger than average wasps and deliver a potent sting. In some instances, they can cause symptoms like a runny nose, abdominal pain and swelling of the lip or tongue. While no more dangerous than a wasp or bee sting, those with insect allergies should exercise caution. In the event of a severe reaction, they may experience anaphylactic shock. Differentiating between an Asian hornet and a common wasp in your garden isn't always simple, but there are clear indicators to look out for. According to the British Beekeepers Association, Asian hornets can be identified by their distinct yellow legs and a broad orange band on their abdomen's fourth segment. In case you spot what might be these invasive insects, stay calm – experts have shared a useful tip to repel them naturally. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Clancy Bros Pest Control has shared the following advice: "Wasps and hornets hate the smell of mint. You can plant mint around your house or keep a pot of mint near the areas where these pests are usually found. This will help to keep them away from those areas." You can easily find mint plants at Asda for just £1.08 to plant in your garden. It's advisable to grow mint in individual pots, ensuring fertile, well-drained soil and some exposure to sunlight. For those less inclined to gardening, Clancy Bros Pest Control also recommends using peppermint oil as a handy substitute, which has the advantage of a longer shelf life when stored in your cupboard. They further advise: "You can also use peppermint oil as it has the same effect. Just take a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place it near their nest." If you encounter an Asian hornet, residents are encouraged to record their sighting in the Asian Hornet Watch app. Additionally, reporting can be done by sending a photo and location details to alertnonnative@ uk.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Households urged to plant £1.08 herb immediately to keep Asian hornets away
Brits have been warned to plant a certain herb to deter Asian hornets, as these invasive stinging insects are capable of destroying bumblebees and ravaging gardens British gardeners have been warned over record sightings of a terrifying hornet that destroys bees and flowers – fortunately, there's one popular herb that will keep them at bay. Asian hornets are a highly invasive species that were accidentally introduced to the UK in 2016. They are known to decimate bee populations and ravage ecosystems. Scarier still, their numbers in Britain are growing. There were 262 queen Asian hornets recorded on Jersey by 11 April 2025, which is a year-on-year increase of 1,090%, as reported by The Observer. Asian hornets tend to wake from hibernation around April. Worse, they have a preference for warmer temperatures, which means the recent heat wave has likely helped their numbers. The reason they pose such a cause for concern is because they prey on native pollinators, like bumblebees. In fact, just one Asian hornet is capable of killing and eating up to fifty bumblebees in a day. They pose a threat to humans, too. These yellow-legged insects are slightly larger than average wasps and pack a vicious sting. In some cases they can cause symptoms like runny nose, abdominal pain and lip or tongue swelling. While no more dangerous than a wasp or bee sting, those with allergies to insects should be careful. In the case of a severe reaction, they may go into anaphylactic shock. It can be hard to determine if you've found an Asian hornet or a regular wasp in your garden – however, there are some tell-tale signs. Aside from their distinctive yellow legs, Asian hornets have a wide orange stripe on the fourth section of their abdomen, according to the British Beekeepers Association. If you think you've spotted these destructive pests in your garden, don't panic. Experts have revealed that there is a naturally growing herb that can help deter them. Clancy Bros Pest Control advise: 'Wasps and hornets hate the smell of mint. You can plant mint around your house or keep a pot of mint near the areas where these pests are usually found. This will help to keep them away from those areas.' Mint plants can be picked up for just £1.08 from Asda and planted directly into the soil. They are best grown in their own pots, in fertile well-drained soil and with access to partial sunlight. If you don't have the time or energy to grow mint, Clancy Bros Pest Control suggest using peppermint oil instead. The added benefit of this alternative is that it keeps in your cupboard for a long time. They add: 'You can also use peppermint oil as it has the same effect. Just take a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place it near their nest.' If you spot an Asian hornet buzzing around, Brits have been urged to note it down in the Asian Hornet Watch app. Alternatively, you can also email a picture and location to alertnonnative@
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK's first Asian Hornet nest of 2025 found as experts warn of 'unprecedented' invasion
A yellow-legged Asian hornet nest has been found in the UK leading experts to warn of an "unprecedented" number set to invade the country with the insects maybe aggressive "if they feel threatened" Brits are being warned of an invasion of yellow-legged Asian hornets just days after a nest was found. The British Beekeepers Association has confirmed a single hornet and embryo nest was discovered in Langley, Kent, on April 16, and now it is feared that "unprecedented" numbers could arrive in the country. The charity said the small nest would have been created by a queen and survived the winter - only the second year this has been recorded, reports said. It is the first nest to be confirmed in the UK but there have already been a few recorded sightings of the invasive creature in the southeast of Kent. It was first spotted in the UK in 2016, but experts warned last year the invasive species had successfully overwintered in the UK for the first time. Earlier this month experts in Jersey reported an unprecedented number of early sightings, reports said. Elsewhere in the country, sightings have been recorded around Southampton and Oswestry, Shropshire. Ian Campbell, of the BBKA, said: "There's a strong risk of this year's numbers being at least as high as in 2023 and the potential to be even higher. It would be a surprise if numbers were not above the 2024 level." According to DEFRA, there have been 147 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets in the UK since 2016. While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than native wasps and hornets, they do pose a huge risk to honey bees and insect pollinators. One alone can kill between 60 to 90 honeybees per day, and dozens will 'hawk' a hive at any one time by decimating the bees. The insects have a distinctive appearance and can be identified by their very dark body and wide orange stripes on the fourth abdominal segment. Native to Asia, their arrival in Europe was first recorded in France in 2004 when a hornet is thought to have arrived in a consignment of pottery from China. In 2016, it was discovered in the UK for the very first time in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. The BBKA is now encouraging everyone to report any sightings using the Asian Hornet Watch app. A BBKA spokesperson added: "It is important not to approach or disturb a nest, as although they are not generally aggressive towards people, they can be if they perceive a threat."
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Map shows Asian hornet sightings in UK as experts reveal how to spot them
An alarming number of Asian hornets spotted in Jersey has sparked fears the UK could face a summer invasion of the species that prey heavily on honeybees. Jersey reported more than 195 sightings of the invasive species last week, with 260 queens found already this year. Channel Island authorities have launched a clampdown, but insect specialists and beekeepers are afraid they will travel to the UK on ferries and cargo ships bound for Britain. The threat of the Asian hornet has been growing slowly in recent years in the UK, but in 2023 there was an explosion in sightings, which alarmed experts. Due to the poor weather in spring and summer of 2024, fewer nests were reported, but due to the sunny start of spring this year, many experts are afraid more Asian hornets will be seen in the UK. Ian Campbell from the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) warned the UK was on a "slippery slope" to an established population. He told Yahoo News: "We've got a narrow window to try and eradicate them at the moment and we have got to do everything we can to keep them out." According to the BBKA, the Asian hornet has several distinguishing characteristics. Firstly, its size, they are bigger than a wasp or bee, both of which grow to less than 2cm in length, but are smaller than a European hornet which can be 3cm in length. The average Asian hornet is about 2.5cm. Their bodies are almost entirely black except for the tip of their abdomen which can be a browny yellow. Finally, their most distinguishing feature is their yellow-tipped legs. A European hornet is generally much more orange all over its body. The buzzing of an Asian hornet's wings is also lower pitched than that of a wasp or bee. According to the National Bee Unit, two hornet sightings have been confirmed so far this year, one in Oswestry, Shropshire and one in Canterbury, Kent. Both are suspected to have travelled from France. In 2024, hornets were in several spots in the UK, but they were by far the most prevalent in the South East. Kent recorded more than half of the sightings, with 44 out of 71 reported. Other hotspots were East Sussex, with 15, three in Sussex, and five in Hampshire. A hornet was also reported in Greater London and one in Lancashire. Several people also reported seeing them as they were on a ferry in the English Channel. 2023 was by far the worst year for Asian hornets in the UK, with sightings much more prevalent across the South of England spreading into London, and more being seen in Plymouth, Hull and Middlesborough. Firstly, avoid getting stung, especially if you are allergic to wasp and bee stings. Individual stings are not deadly but they will give you much more pain than a wasp or bee would. Lone hornets do not usually attack humans, however if people come close to their nests groups of them can become aggressive to protect their territory. Campbell from the BBKA said there had been reports of people in Europe disturbing nests and being killed as a result. There are numerous ways to report Asian hornet sightings, with the easiest being through the Asian Hornet Watch app. You can also send an email to alertnonnative@ or fill out a form online. The app was designed by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and is supported by the government. Attaching a photograph to any sighting report can be extremely helpful. A report through the app will go to all of the National Bee Unit which has a team that destroys nests. Keeping track of where the hornets are and especially where potential nests are via reports from the public is the best way to reduce the threat of Asian hornets in the UK. Asian hornets were accidentally introduced to France in 2004 and have caused huge damage to the bee population. France estimates there are now around half a million Asian hornet nests in their country and they kill up to 30% of the honeybees a year, costing them tens of millions in economic losses each year. Asian hornets were first sighted in the UK in 2016 and more and more are seen each year. Vicki Hird, insect expert with The Wildlife Trusts, told Yahoo News: "They're a major threat to our native pollinators." She added: "For this reason, they're an Alert Species and potential sightings need to be reported as soon as possible to prevent their establishment in Great Britain." Asian hornets prey endlessly on all types of bees and many other pollinating insects that provide a vital part of the UK's ecosystem. An average Asian hornet nest can consume 11kg of insects in one year, equivalent to roughly 90,000 insects. There are fears that extermination efforts are not succeeding completely each year in the UK, leading to them potentially living through the inter. Campbell said: "Last year we found queens who were related to nests we found in 2023. "That's a slippery slope down to established population." Researchers from the University of Exeter found the genetic material of 1,449 different insects in the larvae of Asian hornets taken from Jersey, France, Spain, and the UK. Europe's top three crop pollinators – the honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee and the red-tailed bumblebee – were all found among the top 50 prey species identified. The study's leader author Siffreya Pedersen said: "Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution. "The expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat." By 2022, just 16 Asian hornet nests had been discovered in this country. In 2023, this increased dramatically to 72 nests in 56 different locations. For the first time in 2023, beekeepers on the South Coast of England reported losing bees to hornets. On top of the direct threat of being predated by hornets, bees also avoid leaving their hive if they know hornets are nearby, weakening the colony and potentially leaving it unable to survive the winter.
